Posted on 01/14/2019 6:37:20 AM PST by ShadowAce
The name "Linux" technically refers to an operating system "kernel", a single but key component of a complete operating system. In everyday use, the term "Linux" is frequently used to refer to a complete operating system which consists of the kernel and some of the thousands of other programs required to make an operating system useful. Much of the important system software that is typically installed on a Linux system comes from The GNU Project, a project to build an operating system made entirely of free software.
The first Linux kernel was created by Linus Torvalds. It was first released on 5 Oct 1991. It was started as an x86-only, single-processor operating system, but grew to become one of the most ported pieces of software. Other parts of a complete GNU/Linux system come from other projects such as the GNU project, and are integrated into a complete GNU/Linux OS by your supplier. Usually your supplier will assign their own version number to the integrated whole.
The GNU Project is overseen by the Free Software Foundation, founded by Richard Stallman, who believes that the people should use the term "GNU/Linux" to refer to such an operating system, because so many of the required programs were in fact, written as part of the GNU Project.
Most Linux distributions have a special type of CD, called a live CD. If you insert this CD and then restart your computer, the live CD will run Linux on the computer while avoiding changing anything on your computer as much as possible. For example it won't normally install any files on your PC, but run only from the CD. You can give the operating system a try to see if you like it without the risk of installing anything on your hard drive. You should remember that linux typically runs very fast - if the system seems slow, it is because it is running off your CD drive, not your hard drive.
There are dozens of different Linux distributions. Here are some ways to help you narrow down the options to a short list.
Try a distro chooser, like http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/. Often several different distributions will meet all your requirements. Your final choice from the short list may be based on whim or personal taste.
The easiest way to begin using a Linux system may be to use an already running system. For example, some systems may be available in various educational or work environments. In this case you only need to contact the appropriate administrator and obtain a user ID and password. You will only be able to explore the system to a certain extent, but the first steps can be taken without having go through the installation process.
Another trouble-free way of obtaining a Linux system is to buy a computer with Linux pre-installed. The number of vendors selling such systems is constantly increasing.
... button to browse for your iso, next choose your drive letter in the "Type" column and click OK..lsblk.sdb 8:16 1 2.0G 0 part /media/NO NAME Note down the sdX, in this example sdb, NOT sdb1 etc.
sudo umount /dev/sdX15. Browse to the directory where you downloaded the iso with the cd command and type this command. (Assuming the iso image is ubuntu-gnome-16.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso and your drive is sdb)
sudo dd if=ubuntu-gnome-16.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=1M
6. The command will work in the background, when you return to a prompt, it will be finished.
A live CD/DVD is not recommended, use this procedure only if you do not have a computer that can boot from USB.
Windows (7 and later)
K3b, Brasero etc. all have a function to burn images to CD/DVDs.
Live CDs don't need to be installed to your hard drive for you to use them. Instead, you simply load the Live CD into your CD-ROM drive, restart your computer and a complete running Linux system should boot up with little, if any, intervention. There are some difficulties for some distributions working with certain sets of hardware, but most systems will boot with little to no problems.
A system running a Live CD often tends to be a little slow. This is because information must be fetched from the CD-ROM (which is much slower than a hard drive) and because the Live CD must store a lot of information in memory that would normally stay on the hard disk. Don't let this fool you into thinking that Linux is a slow operating system though. Linux systems are normally very fast and reliable. If you try a Live CD, it is recommended (unless you are trying a MiniLinux) that the computer you use be a relatively recent one with a generous amount of memory (256MB or more). For most people, this should provide a trouble free way to begin to get to know Linux. Sometimes the entire Live CD can be loaded into RAM if a sufficient amount is available (say around 1GB) and this will offer excellent responsiveness.
Live CDs are a great way to test whether certain hardware is likely to be compatible with Linux. Just pop the disk into the CD-ROM drive of the system in question and reboot as described above. Most hardware problems (if there are any) should make themselves obvious during normal use.
If your Live CD is ignored and you find yourself booting into your normal operating system, you may need to alter some settings in your BIOS. While this may sound daunting for some users, it's actually a lot easier than it sounds.
Begin by restarting your PC and when the boot process begins again you will need to strike a particular key on your keyboard. The key you need to strike will usually be displayed on the computer screen and is often the 'Del' key. Common alternatives are 'F1', 'F2', 'F10' and 'Esc'. The proper key will vary with your computers manufacturer. Once the proper key is struck your computer screen will display the 'BIOS' or 'Setup' editor. There are usually some simple instructions on the bottom of the screen, or off to one side, telling you how to navigate around the various choices and make changes. Be sure to read these before continuing, then look for something labeled 'Boot' or 'Boot order'. Using the instructions you read a moment ago, change this so that your CD-ROM is the first item in the boot order. If you think you've made a mistake, there is usually an option to 'Exit without saving changes'. If you don't see that option, holding down the 'Ctrl' and 'Alt' keys and pressing the 'Del' key should save the day. If all goes well 'Save and Exit' and your computer should boot up, checking the CD-ROM for your Live CD as it does so. If you have run a Linux Live CD and have rebooted to use your regular operating system and have arrived at a notice declaring "Missing Operating System" or "Error on System Disk", or any scary notice stopping you from loading up as normal, it is likely that the computer has "forgotten" that you normally load up from the hard drive and has started to look for your operating system in the CD Drive. To fix this, follow the instructions above accordingly to your system but instead of selecting your CD drive as the boot device, select your hard drive.
Nice script. I also write script-generating scripts. I've got one that I run monthly to generate 2-3 different scripts (depending on the remote server) onto a remote server, with an Excel spreadsheet as the input. It has saved me weeks of time over the course of a single year.
I stole it from somewhere. I couldn't write that has 'sed' line.
Just wondering why you used Excel? I've seen scripts that parse/modify OpenOffice spreadsheets that work really well, because XML is fairly easy and straightforward to parse.
Historically speaking, that is the tool used to maintain our list of servers. It contains name, IP, OS, Date of monthly update, whether or not to reboot it after the update, and the server's application owner, as well as the server's admin on our team.
I just used an existing information source to make my job easier. We probably could go to LibreOffice, or OpenOffice, but the maintainer uses a Mac, and he inherited the spreadsheet from a former maintainer. It's just easier to keep what we know works. :)
Here’s an idea. Above I posted the directions on how to make a Linux Boot USB stick. Do this on your current working machine. Then boot the one you are working on from the Linux stick. This will override the password protect for you and get a usable OS up and running.
Now if at this point you want to just go ahead and install the linux it will also give you the option to reformat and wipe the drive clean as part of the install options set up. You can always make it a dual OS machine later if you like. But if you get the Linux version I have you are going to like it and not miss windows much at all.
I figured it was something like that. Inertia isn't just for physical things!
I really hope!
They've put all the source code for Windows 10 into github, believe it or not. You could theoretically compile it and make it work. That's a lot of work, though.
The bigger problem isn't the code it's the support. When they no longer provide the security patching is when I'd stop using it. The Internet is a cesspool, and I'd be too worried about getting infected.
But the company really has changed. The boomers who founded it are almost completely gone, and now it's filled with Mellenials. I hardly go to Redmond anymore. Even the dining halls show MSNBC non-stop, like an airport with CNN, but worse!
Know what? I’m not for sure all that security patching was even needed. I have been running Win 7 with no problems and have had my updates turned off for about 6 years now. Strange right? lol
Bump for later.
Thank you sir!
aaaannnnd you just scared everyone off
Lol... I was thinking the same thing. You gotta use Code??? I’m done... lol
Sadly, Mint is stopping support for KDE after 2021 :/
bookmark
I think what they have done is compiled the best of the best and incorporated it all into one core base. Have you tried cinnamon or mate yet? Pretty sure they will handle anything you use in KDE. These will be the core base they will be upgrading from now on. But I am kind of new to it and digging cinnamon. Reading around it looks like many have liked the move from KDE to cinnamon. :)
LOL. Looks like it!
Continue as planned, or go ahead? Need some input.
A week wouldn't be bad, and would keep the haters from freaking out as much (though they seem to be a definite minority these days). It might make sense to do one on Monday and one on Thursday as well. Really depends upon how busy you are.
I have an issue with my media player that I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with that I was going to post on the next thread.
LOL! I'm winging this. I will have to go and find the content for the next one.
You mean now you can right click on a icon in the Start menu equivalent and then go to the source of the program? Or are they still hard to find? I am tempted to once again install Mint to show the differences, plus the lack of truly comparable software (like AutoHotKey).
Linux has much potential as a Desktop (though that genre is decreasing) and could be made a much more viable alternative, ut I fault the "easy as windows" line as hype, and having tried every major and many minor distros myself I find it lacks the ease of customization and comes short in truly comparable 3rd party software (without which Windows would be much less able). But just most people do not customize their computer much and are satisfied with the defaults, and most actually choose the Chrome browser over Firefox ESR with its vastly more extensive abilities for the power user (which also work in Linux) then many more could switch to Linux if they felt the need to.
On the other hand are those who want to their computer software computer to do much more, and know coding, and thus Linux is the best option for them.
For me I would be missing some functions unless I knew how to code (aside from a few simple scripts)
. But thank God for alternatives. What if we had to rely in the gov, for computers and software?
You mean like much Broadcom wireless?
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